Comments on: Building a Contact Microphone http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/ A Comprehensive Ableton Live Tutorial Resource | Ableton Live Video Tutorials Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:58:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Nick http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-331 Nick Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:09:58 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-331 I haven't had a chance to do this yet since I don't have any bowed instruments around the house, although I have been thinking about creating an improvised one. I haven’t had a chance to do this yet since I don’t have any bowed instruments around the house, although I have been thinking about creating an improvised one.

]]> By: Joel http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-326 Joel Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:13:29 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-326 I'd be interested in hearing how a cheap diy contact mic like this sounds attached to the body or bridge of a bowed instrument, or to an acoustic guitar. In the past, I've used a "professional" piezo bridge pickup on violin, and I'm wondering how it compares to a cheaply made one. I'm guessing that it could be pretty similar. When I have time, I definitely want to try making my own. It looks like a very fun useful project and I'm loving the sounds. I’d be interested in hearing how a cheap diy contact mic like this sounds attached to the body or bridge of a bowed instrument, or to an acoustic guitar. In the past, I’ve used a “professional” piezo bridge pickup on violin, and I’m wondering how it compares to a cheaply made one. I’m guessing that it could be pretty similar. When I have time, I definitely want to try making my own. It looks like a very fun useful project and I’m loving the sounds.

]]> By: admin http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-45 admin Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:21:47 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-45 Thanks for sharing this stuff, Neil! Thanks for sharing this stuff, Neil!

]]> By: Neil http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-44 Neil Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:39:08 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-44 Ok, here's a few things I tried -- these are totally unprocessed, so I'm sure there's room to make something cool out of these: A couple trains coming through the station, recorded from a steel support pillar: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/trains.wav My box fan starting and stopping: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/fan%20starting%20and%20stopping.wav Some crazy low-pitch thumps from my radiator (bass drum sample perhaps?): http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/superbass%20drum%20sounds.wav I improved a song (3 tracks) playing/singing into a cookie sheet. I like the effect on the acoustic guitar (chords & solo), but not much on voice. I had a lot of noise, I think I need to buy a power conditioner... http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/singing%20into%20a%20cookie%20sheet.mp3 Ok, here’s a few things I tried — these are totally unprocessed, so I’m sure there’s room to make something cool out of these:

A couple trains coming through the station, recorded from a steel support pillar:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/trains.wav

My box fan starting and stopping:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/fan%20starting%20and%20stopping.wav

Some crazy low-pitch thumps from my radiator (bass drum sample perhaps?):
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/superbass%20drum%20sounds.wav

I improved a song (3 tracks) playing/singing into a cookie sheet. I like the effect on the acoustic guitar (chords & solo), but not much on voice. I had a lot of noise, I think I need to buy a power conditioner…
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2998392/singing%20into%20a%20cookie%20sheet.mp3

]]> By: Neil http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-43 Neil Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:21:36 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-43 I don't have anything up now, but I'll be playing with it more this weekend. There's an elevated subway station right by my apartment, so that's definitely on the agenda;) I was also thinking about trying 'stereo' -- what happens when you mix two sounds recorded from different points on the same object? Incidentally, I heard an interview with Ben Frost on NPR's Sound Check, and I think he said there are some samples in his recent "By the throat" album that were recorded from contact microphones placed on wolves while eating... pretty badass! I don’t have anything up now, but I’ll be playing with it more this weekend. There’s an elevated subway station right by my apartment, so that’s definitely on the agenda;) I was also thinking about trying ‘stereo’ — what happens when you mix two sounds recorded from different points on the same object?

Incidentally, I heard an interview with Ben Frost on NPR’s Sound Check, and I think he said there are some samples in his recent “By the throat” album that were recorded from contact microphones placed on wolves while eating… pretty badass!

]]> By: admin http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-42 admin Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:07:54 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-42 Excellent ideas, Neil, thanks for your feedback. I'll have to give the magnet thing a try for myself when I get some time this week :) Do you have any links to music or sound design that uses contact microphones? Excellent ideas, Neil, thanks for your feedback. I’ll have to give the magnet thing a try for myself when I get some time this week :) Do you have any links to music or sound design that uses contact microphones?

]]> By: Neil http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-41 Neil Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:58:16 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-41 Just built one of these - fun stuff! I think my favorite has been slapping it on a cookie sheet suspended by string. Makes a really unique plate reverb sound when you sing into it (some resonant frequencies get out-of-control, but a little surgical EQ fixes that up). I also started using a small (but powerful) magnet for attaching it to metal stuff -- very handy for moving it around and exploring the sounds you get from different positions. Just built one of these – fun stuff! I think my favorite has been slapping it on a cookie sheet suspended by string. Makes a really unique plate reverb sound when you sing into it (some resonant frequencies get out-of-control, but a little surgical EQ fixes that up). I also started using a small (but powerful) magnet for attaching it to metal stuff — very handy for moving it around and exploring the sounds you get from different positions.

]]> By: Neil http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-40 Neil Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:56:58 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-40 Looking forward to trying this out! I ordered some of these: http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3035200 Looking forward to trying this out! I ordered some of these:
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3035200

]]> By: Want Some Free Samples for your Multimedia Project? #twsfx | Nick's Tutorials http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-39 Want Some Free Samples for your Multimedia Project? #twsfx | Nick's Tutorials Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:59:04 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-39 [...] in the pack:  I've provided a number of contact microphone recordings in both unprocessed and processed forms.  These samples would work well as [...] [...] in the pack:  I've provided a number of contact microphone recordings in both unprocessed and processed forms.  These samples would work well as [...]

]]> By: admin http://nickstutorials.com/building-a-contact-microphone/#comment-38 admin Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:22:11 +0000 http://nickstutorials.com/?p=323#comment-38 Thanks for the nice comments, Jason. As you stated, contact mics are most often used to get a nice sound from acoustic instruments. It's pretty amazing what such a cheap device can achieve. Thanks for the nice comments, Jason. As you stated, contact mics are most often used to get a nice sound from acoustic instruments. It’s pretty amazing what such a cheap device can achieve.

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